St. Louis is the perfect city to visit for any history lover, budget traveler, and barbecue lover. This historic city is located along the banks of the Mississippi River and there are plenty of things to do on a budget during one day in St. Louis or for a weekend trip. I have not been to St. Louis two times and have loved the city both times. It is the history of the area that gets me and it was an amazing experience being there for the 4th of July.
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History of St. Louis
The area was initially settled by the Osage people until the Europeans arrived in the area. Later, the city of St. Louis was founded by the French and named after Louis IX. It was settled by the French until the United States acquired this area with the Louisiana Purchase. During the 1800s, St. Louis became the starting point for the Oregon Trail. The area exploded with people and development and saw the addition of steamboats along the river. Present-day, it is a vibrant center of trade and manufacturing and the perfect place to spend one day in St. Louis or to visit for a weekend trip.
How to Get to St. Louis
St. Louis has one major airport, the St. Louis Lambert International airport. The majority of the flights come from within the United States and international flights come from Canada or Mexico. If coming from outside of those areas, you will have to transfer planes. St. Louis is an easy road trip from Chicago, Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Nashville.
Transportation for One Day in St. Louis
If you stay in the downtown area, there is no need to rent a car. Everything is easily walkable or accessible by public transportation. Lyft and Uber are also available. If you stay outside of Downtown St. Louis, you may want to get a car for better flexibility during one day in St. Louis.
Where to Stay in St. Louis
The best area to stay in St. Louis is the downtown area. If you stay in this area, you will not need a car to get around. You can walk to all the main attractions and Uber anywhere else you would like to see. There are a ton of hotels in the area as well as many Airbnbs. New to Airbnb? Sign up here to receive $40 off your first stay! The following are some hotels I recommend.
What to See During One Day in St. Louis
Day 1
Gateway Arch National Park
Cost: Free to $14
Hours: 9am-6pm
Start your one day in St. Louis at Gateway Arch National Park. Gateway Arch National Park just became a National Park in 2018 and is the smallest National Park in the United States. The focal point of this National Park is the iconic St. Louis Arch. This park also marks the starting point of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Make sure to get tickets ($14) to ride up in pods to the top of the arch for some amazing views of St. Louis.
Old Courthouse
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-4:30pm
After visiting the Gateway Arch, head over to the Old Courthouse. The Old Courthouse is part of Gateway National Park. This courthouse is where the Dred Scott Decision was made. This decision took place in 1857 and confirmed that African Americans were not US Citizens and therefore the same rights of US citizens did not apply to them. The inside of the courthouse building now contains a small museum. Visitors are also able to go into the courtroom where the decision was made. It is a perfect stop for any history lover (I get chills every time I go).
Sugarfire Smokehouse
Cost: $$
Hours: 11am-8:30pm
This barbeque place is a must if you are in the St. Louis Downtown area! You HAVE to eat at least one barbeque meal during one day in St. Louis. We ended up getting a meat sampler platter so we could try multiple items and it was all amazing. They have at least five different sauces you can try as well. Make sure to get there early because once they run out, they are closed for the day.
City Garden Sculpture Park
Cost: Free
Hours: 6am-10pm
After lunch, take a stroll through the City Garden Sculpture Park. This little park is in the middle of downtown. It contains various unique and super cool sculptures. Some of them are even interactive and you can touch them. The sculpture park is also a lovely place to relax and take a break, especially after eating a big barbeque lunch.
Busch Stadium
Cost: $5 and up
Hours: Varies by game
This afternoon, head to a baseball game! If you are a baseball fan, a Cardinals game is a must. The stadium is conveniently located downtown and easily walkable from that area. It is not as large as some of the other baseball stadiums, so make sure to buy tickets beforehand if it is a popular game. If it is not baseball season, choose another activity off the list below to enjoy this afternoon.
Ted Drewes’ Frozen Custard
Cost: $
Hours: 11am-10:30pm
Ted Drewes is one of my favorite custard places ever and a must-visit place during one day in St. Louis. Although it is not conveniently located downtown, I will go out of my way to get a custard here. It is usually busy, but the line goes quickly. Make sure to try one of their many different flavored concretes. They are my favorite.
More Than One Day in St. Louis?
If you have more than one day in St. Louis make sure to check out these other awesome places!
Day 2
Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery
Cost: $6 and up
Hours: Varies
If you are in search of beer, head over to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Visitors can take a tour or just visit the tasting room for a drink.
City Museum
Cost: $16
Hours: Wed-Sun: 10am-5pm
The city museum is located in an old 5-story warehouse downtown. It has been turned into a unique art exhibit and contains some awesome rooftop exhibits, such as a ferris wheel and an old school bus.
Forest Park
Cost: Free
Hours: 6am-10pm
Forest Park is a large park west of Downtown. It contains multiple museums, great walking and biking trails, and hosts a plethora of events. This park is a great place to spend some time outdoors or have a picnic. Best of all, it is free to access the park! Throughout the year, various special events are also held at the park.
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Cost: $14
Hours: Tues-Sun: 9am-5pm
Any nature lover will enjoy the Botanical Gardens. It is the second-largest botanical garden in North America. It contains many awesome stops such as the Butterfly Garden, the Koi Fish feeding bridge, and the Chinese Garden. Springtime is the perfect time to visit since all the flowers will be in bloom.
Scott Joplin House
Cost: $4+
Hours: 10pm-4pm, Closed Sundays
This is the preserved home of the famous composer and musician, Scott Joplin. Visitors can visit the home and walk through the halls he once inhabited.
St. Louis is such a fun city to visit and a great place to start several road trips. Head towards Chicago and stop in Springfield, Illinois to learn about Abraham Lincoln. You can also head west and travel Route 66 to Los Angeles with stops in Oklahoma, Albuquerque, and Arizona. No matter what, one day in St. Louis will make for an amazing time.
Wonderful tips! I haven’t been to St. Louis yet, but I hope to soon! It looks like such a lovely city.
I am also a history teacher from CA! 🙂
This is so helpful! I may be traveling to St Louis next spring, so I pinned this for later.
I really don’t know much about St-Louis so it is a real eye-opener, lots fo fun things to do. And OMG Sugarfire Smokehouse!
Wait, you can ride up and see the views from up in the arch!? That looks awesome! I love high places, so I’d be straight up there (after eating a pile of the gorgeous looking food at Sugarfire Smokehouse!)
Wow! There’s really a lot to do. I was in St. Louis years ago, but I didn’t really explore the city. I am going back this summer (in 11 days!) and this has given me a lot of ideas. I will for sure check out Ted Drewes’ custard…I’m also will to go out of my way for a good custard! 🙂
Yes! Ted Drewes is sooooo good.